Brisbane have pulled off a stunning upset to beat top of the table West Coast by two points in their AFL clash at the Gabba on Sunday.

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A late James Polkinghorne goal got the Lions home 16.6 (102) to 15.10 (100) in front of 15,546 mostly delirious Brisbane fans.

Despite a slow start, West Coast appeared to finally click and threatened a blowout when they led by 21 points - the biggest deficit of the game - early in the fourth term.

Then the Lions produced something almost as rare as a win for Brisbane - a stunning comeback.

Goals to Josh Drummond, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Rich and super-sub Josh Green gave the upstart Lions a three-point lead with 12 minutes left on the clock, ensuring an absorbing final arm wrestle.

It seemed only something special was going to finally seal a result in the intriguing game - and Polkinghorne produced in the dying minutes.

Moments after West Coast's Jack Darling was somehow denied a goal by desperate Lions defence at the other end, Polkinghorne launched a remarkable 60m torpedo kick that snatched back the lead.

And that's how it stayed as the Lions notched a win over a top-eight side for the first time since round 10, 2010.

It was a fitting way to celebrate Brown's 100th game as skipper.

But the Lions talisman would have his eye on another stat - a rare win, and without veteran midfielder Simon Black (knee).

For the Lions, Jack Redden and Daniel Rich (both 21 touches) were inspirational while Drummond, Polkinghorne and Green had three goals each.

For the Eagles, Chris Masten had 27 touches as did Matt Priddis who also kicked three majors.

The AFL's longest road trip appeared to have taken its toll as a flat Eagles were jumped early as the Lions grabbed an eight-point lead at the first break.

West Coast were still in first gear in the second term and an energetic Lions dared to dream of an upset after finishing the quarter with goals to Jared Polec and Aaron Cornelius to kick ahead by 11 at the main break.

West Coast tried to wake from their Gabba slumber by kicking 5.2 to 1.1 to lead by 14 points at the final interval, only for the Lions to storm home for their best win of 2012.